Jefferson County jury deliberates in case of Sin City motorcyclist

A Jefferson County jury this morning began deliberating in the capital murder trial of Charlie Joe Wilson Jr., a Birmingham man accused of killing the president of a rival motorcycle club Jan. 11 by shooting him execution-style on the side of the interstate.

The jurors' decision hinges on whether they believe testimony from an eye witness who, prior to the shooting, stopped to help when he saw a car wrecked on the side of the road.

Prosecutors contend Wilson, a member of Sin City who is known as 'Coyote,' was involved in a fight with the victim earlier in the night at a motorcycle club facility in Fairfield. The victim, Charles Bevelle, was the president of Sho' Nuff.

But Wilson's attorney told jurors the state's case was weak and the eye witnesses' account was inconsistent, in closing arguments today. Attorney Eric Guster also questioned how the witness could have gotten a good enough look at the shooter's face given where he was standing and limited lighting. The prosecutor, however, countered that the witness had his bright lights on.

"Mr. Bevelle did not deserve to die like that, but this is about convicting the right person, not a person," Guster said. "They're asking you to draw assumptions, to not pay attention to the lack of evidence they have. This is murder, folks."

Prosecutor Jim Neill said the eye witness didn't ask to be involved. The man's testimony is the only evidence, but it's strong evidence, Neill said. Because of the type of gun used, there were no shell casings to find at the scene, he said.

"This case is about a good Samaritan, a 'Coyote' and a coward who would put a gun to someone's head and shoot," Neill told jurors. "He had a motive. He's the enforcer of Sin City. What better way to get back at Sho' Nuff than to kill their president?"

The trial began Wednesday and both sides rested by 3:30 p.m. that afternoon.